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A treehouse for bats

Brown long-eared bat by Tom Marshall

Rare bats are being given a helping hand in the form of a treehouse.
Finished bat hotel

Finished bat hotel by Becca Bratt

Staff from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust are converting an old treehouse into a deluxe bat hotel. The treehouse was used by the previous owners of the woodland, which is now part of the local charity’s The Knapp and Papermill nature reserve near Alfrick.

Dominique Cragg, reserves officer for the Trust who is overseeing the project, commented “We know from regular surveys that 11 of the UK’s 17 breeding species of bat use the nature reserve so it’s great to get funding to provide more roosting spaces for them.

“There’s currently no evidence that bats are using the treehouse as it is so we’ll be creating different entrance/exit points, inserting an enclosed timber loft with perches and adding boxes inside and out. This will provide a range of roosting opportunities with varying temperatures, nooks and crannies.

“Different species of bat roost in different ways – some like tucking into tiny crevices whereas others hang upside down, as most people imagine all bats do. This means that, to be most effective for as many species as possible, we need to be creative with what we put into the space.”

A bat box installed on the side of the treehouse

Additional features, such as bat boxes, have been installed on the treehouse. Photo by Becca Bratt

The treehouse is in a 10-acre area of the wood that became the Trust’s 100th patch of land when it was bought in 2018.

More than 50 bat boxes are already scattered throughout the nature reserve and are regularly surveyed, under licence, by volunteers from Worcestershire Bat Group.

The site is home to common and soprano pipistrelles, brown long-eared bats, lesser horseshoes and the much rarer barbastelle bat. The mixed habitats found at The Knapp and Papermill – from woodland to meadows - provide perfect breeding and foraging opportunities for the bats.

The wider area is also well-connected from a bat point of view, with mature hedgerows providing perfect corridors for bats to fly along as they hunt for insects to feed on. The Trust works hard with neighbours and communities to help achieve connectivity for wildlife in this area and through the county.

The project to convert the treehouse is being funded by Natural Networks, a partnership project between Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust to create and enhance areas for wildlife. The project provides up to 70% of costs, distributed from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Lucy Mayo, Natural Networks Programme Manager for Worcestershire County Council, said “We’re really excited to be involved in this unusual and inventive project, which is part of a wider Natural Networks scheme at The Knapp and Papermill nature reserve.

“The conversion of the treehouse will breathe new life into this derelict structure and will be a great addition to the bat habitats at this special place for wildlife.”

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